BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday said it is the current regime that is supplicating foreigners, not her party, and warned of dire consequences if it does not arrange a fresh national election immediately.
“The government is saying that we’re supplicating foreigners. It’s not we but they (govt) who are begging foreigners after forming an illegal government through a voter-less election. They’re regularly sending their envoys to different countries to have their recognition. We don’t need to beg anyone, but they (govt) are doing that,” she said.Addressing a reception, Khaleda said: “But the foreigners conveyed them that the January 5 election was not fair, acceptable, and people didn’t participate in it. They (foreigners) suggested them holding a fresh election immediately.”
Khaleda come up with the counter-remarks apparently reacting to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Friday’s comment that BNP chairperson is now looking for newer excuses to wage a fresh movement and begging foreigners.
Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum arranged the function to greet the newly-elected pro-BNP leader of Dhaka Bar Association at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
Pro-BNP-Jamaat Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Parishad panel swept the Dhaka Bar Association elections held on February 26-27 bagging 19 posts, including those of the president and secretary.
The new pro-BNP leaders of Dhaka Bar Association greeted Khaleda presenting a bouquet.
Congratulating the new Dhaka Bar leaders, Khaleda said people have no confidence in the government. “The victory of our-party backed panel in different district bar associations has proved it. We’ll be successful everywhere if remain united.”
The former Prime Minister said it is necessary to hold a free, fair and credible general election under a no-party caretaker administration as soon as possible. People are also eagerly waiting for polls. “I want to tell the government to pay heed to our demand for fresh polls timely. Or else, you (Govt) will have to pay a heavy price.”
She harshly criticised the government for what she said resorting to terrorism and manipulation in the upazila polls. “They’re capturing polling stations and snatching ballots with the help of police and Rab as they know people won’t vote them.”
Khaleda called upon the government to stop terrorism and capturing polling stations and ensure a free and fair election.
She alleged that the government is using police and Rab members as its party force to suppress opposition.
Khaleda once again justified her party’s decision of boycotting January 5 polls saying people on the day have proved that no fair election can be held under Awami League election by not going to the polling stations responding to BNP’s call.
“They (AL) said we’ve missed the train. I want to say it’s they, not we, have missed the train. They’ve boarded a wrong train missing the people’s train. The train has now derailed.”
Pointing at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda said, “She (Hasina) said the Gopalis are lucky. What a bad luck… the Gopalis are not now on train as the train has derailed. Now a carne is necessary to pull them off.”
She termed that current government illegal as it was not elected by the people’s votes. “The country and its people will suffer as long as this regime is in office.
Accusing the government of running the current parliament illegally, Khaleda said the current opposition in parliament is domestic one. “The opposition leader and those joined the cabinet from the opposition they no one were elected by people’s votes.
The BNP chief alleged that the government is controlling the judiciary. Judges can’t work independently. They’re forced to carry out the illegal orders of the government. The judiciary is enchained and controlled in the hands of Awami League.
Referring to a newspaper report that the government is going to give India transit facilities in the name of connectivity, Khaleda said the ‘self-proclaimed’ Prime Minister (Hasina) during her visit to Myanmar sought Teesta water from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He said they could not give water and the Teesta deal would not be signed.
Khaleda asked the government what Bangladesh has got from India giving them the corridor and many other facilities. “Bangladeshis are getting killed regularly along the border. But our week government even doesn’t dare to protest it.”
“Why should we give them transit when we won’t get water, and no end to border killings? They had extended their help during our Liberation War, but that doesn’t mean we’ve been sold to them. Our people will protect our independence and sovereignty.”
Disproving the government’s plan to hike the tariffs of power and gas, the former Prime Minister said the government has taken the move to provide ‘subsidy’ to the ruling party men who set up quick rental power projects.
Mentioning that the prices of all essentials will go up if the power and gas tariffs are raised, Khaleda urged the government to shelve its plan in the interest of the poor.
In her 30-minute speech, the BNP chief also criticised the government for its growing repressive acts, killing and making opposition leaders and activists disappeared and filing of ‘false’ cases against them, and politicisation, corruption, looting, and tarnishing the country’s image, destroying financial institution, including banking sector, and failure to ensure human rights and the law and order.
Khaleda alleged that the government does not allow them to exercise their democratic rights. “Our Mohila Dal was barred from bringing out a procession marking the International Women’s Day when they (AL) held a rally blocking roads. Is it democracy? It’s extreme autocracy.”
The BNP chief claimed that their party is getting stronger day by day. “Upazila polls and elections to different bar councils are its glaring example.”
She reiterated that they will wage a movement after reorganising their party once the upazila polls are completed.
Khaleda urged the country’s people, including the lawyers, to get united to put up a strong resistance against the current ‘illegal and repressive’ regime.
Chaired by Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum president and BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, chairperson’s adviser Shahjahan Omar, among others addressed the programme. – UNB
